Aussies missed Melbourne Cup entirely after same mistake with Ch7

Channel 7 is under fire over two missing words that saw Aussies all fall into the same trap on Melbourne Cup day.

Channel 7 did it again. Photo: 7Plus.

Channel 7 is under fire over its sneaky move to ignore the Melbourne Cup.

The network on Tuesday screened the race meet from Randwick in Sydney and it seems plenty of Australians missed ‘The Race That Stops the Nation’ assuming the great 3200m race was back on the traditional broadcaster of the Cup.

Thousands of Aussies made the same stuff up last year with one fan saying he had “never felt so stupid” in his life for failing to realise the Cup was being covered by Channel 10.

Channel 10 has held the rights to Cup Day and other events at Flemington since 2019, however, many fans again missed the memo this year.

Seven viewers were instead treated to coverage of the $3 million Big Dance, won by Sara Ryan-trained sprinter Attractable.

By the time 3pm, the annual start time for the Melbourne Cup, passed, plenty of fans couldn’t work out why it wasn’t on their television screens.

Fans were particularly angry last year with some suggesting Seven had deliberately misled them.

Bruce McAvaney commentates for the Seven Network. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Jason Richardson interviews Erin Holland at The Big Dance. Photo: 7Plus.

History repeated on Tuesday with Seven’s broadcast team refusing to say the two words “Melbourne Cup” — and no warning was given about the race being run on a different channel.

The only mention came well after the $8.4 million Cup, won by Without a Fight, had been run when trainer Michael Freedman was interviewed.

It was a massive day for the Freedman family with trainers Anthony and Sam partnering to win the Cup on Without A Fight.

Seven’s only mention of the Cup came in the interview with Michael.

“A proud day for the family,” he said when prompted about his family’s sixth Melbourne Cup win.

“I can’t say I had anything to do with it. It was great to see Sam at the forefront because he works hard. I know he does a lot of the front of house stuff for Anthony and he is a rising star in the industry. A big congrats to him.”

For some, it was only then that they realised they’d made a big mistake.

“What a joke @Channel7, be clearer that you’re not showing the cup race,” one fan posted on social media.

Channel 7’s Emma Freedman was in Melbourne on Cup Day. Picture: Mark Stewart

Trainer Sara Ryan and jockey Regan Bayliss after Attractable won the 2023 Big Dance. Picture: Bradley Photos

One fan wrote on Twitter: “I wonder how many people get fooled in watching Channel 7 thinking the #MelbourneCup will be on it with its ‘day of racing’ and then oh wait, it’s already run.”

Another wrote: “Did anyone else completely miss #melbournecup2023 because you assumed it was on Channel 7?”

One fan wrote: “It used to be a huge build up to the actual race but now there are so many big race meets being televised all at the same time. Nice work channel 7 you’ve destroyed the once awesome Melbourne Cup coverage.”

One fan summed it up: “Thanks for making us miss the Melbourne Cup Race, being sneaky putting on a “day of racing” without showing the Actual Main Race.”

It is the last year the Cup will be screened on Ten, with the TV rights now up for grabs for 2024 and beyond.

Channel 9 is expected to secure the rights with Seven and Ten reportedly declaring they won’t pursue them.

Ten came under fire on Tuesday for its coverage which was fronted by Eddie McGuire.

“10Play found a way to make their Cup broadcast unwatchable. Two words: Eddie McGuire,” one fan wrote.